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World Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture

WorldVistA EHRTM is an open source electronic health record (EHR) based on the highly acclaimed VistA system of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The foundation for WorldVistA EHR was developed as part of the VistA-Office project, a collaborative effort funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The overall goal of the VistA-Office EHR (VOE) project was to encourage the broader adoption and effective use of EHRs among physicians by making a robust, flexible EHR solution alternative available.

After completion of the VOE project in March 2007, WorldVistA made additional enhancements and submitted WorldVistA EHR for certification by theCertification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology(CCHITSM). WorldVistA EHR, Verison VOE/1.0 achieved full CCHITSM EHR

WorldVistA EHR features include:

patient registration

clinical reminders for chronic disease management

clinical order entry

progress note templates

results reporting

WorldVistA EHR also includes functionality tailored to meet the specific needs of clinics and physician offices, such as:

January 31, 2008 - WorldVistA announces the release and availability of WorldVistA EHR VOE/ 1.0, the only open source EHR that meets Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHITSM) ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2006. WorldVistA EHR VOE/ 1.0 is based on and compatible with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) world renowned EHR, VistA®.
(source: http://worldvista.org/World_VistA_EHR)

Implementation of the Veterans Health Administration VistA clinical information system around the world.
Entry created 2010/02/21 - 00:59
TitleImplementation of the Veterans Health Administration VistA clinical information system around the world.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsProtti, D, Groen P
JournalHealthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)
Volume11
Issue4
Pagination83-9
Date Published2008
Abstract
The success story of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within the US Department of Veterans Affairs has been well documented and is generally well known. What is generally not known is that the VHA's clinical information system, known as VistA, and the computerized patient record system clinical user interface front end have been successfully transported and implemented to a number of non-VHA healthcare organizations across the United States. Moreover, VistA software modules have been installed, or are being considered for installation, in healthcare institutions around the world in countries such as Mexico, Finland, Jordan, Germany, Nigeria, Egypt, Malaysia, India, Brazil, Pakistan and Samoa.
(source: http://www.medfloss.org/node/166)

"WorldVistA's Benefits: Cost, Evidence-Based Development
An open source EHR system offers several benefits. The first that comes to mind for many people is cost. Initial investments in healthcare IT systems are high, while an open source system may have little or no start-up cost.
But Dal Molin argues that although cost may be a first attractor, the real benefit of the open source model is the improvement process. "It really mimics the evidence-based medicine model," says Dal Molin.
"All the improvements to the software are driven by end users and customer needs. And those things go through a review and open examination before they find their way into the code base. It's a tight feedback loop between the evolution of the software and the knowledge for decision support to improve care and health outcomes."
Open source also gives providers flexibility in choosing vendors. Ten vendors support WorldVistA today. If a user organization is unhappy with the service provided by one, it can move on to another without threat of losing support."